Asking yourself if you can take care of another human is more than most people do. If you are motivated to care for yourself in the right way and learn how adhd and pregnancy may be a challenging combination you are being more thoughtful than most parents.
Many women who have ADHD struggle with whether or not they should become pregnant and, once pregnant, how to get through their pregnancy. Others find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy. Half of ALL pregnancies are unplanned, and this number is even higher among adhd women. So you are not alone if this is the case.
This page has some tips to best take care of your mental health during pregnancy and resources designed to help you with common questions about ADHD and pregnancy.
ADHD, Pregnancy and Medication
Women who have ADHD wonder if they can continue taking their medication or if they need to stop during pregnancy.
In 2020 attended an online conference in women’s health with Allison Baker, an instructor at Harvard and a staff member at Mass General.
She shared the most up-to-date knowledge in this area, concluding there isn’t enough information to determine the absolute safety of ADHD medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, doctors have been increasingly more comfortable prescribing medications to women who have ADHD during their pregnancy. Researchers are gathering more and more evidence about medications safety, and the evidence is mounting that it is safer than once thought.
Depending on your current medication regimen, you and your doctor should collaborate about medications choices.
Please verify that your doctor has an up-to-date and expert understanding of ADHD in pregnant women. You and your doctor should carefully weigh decisions about medications during pregnancy.
Severe unmedicated ADHD can pose an extreme risk to a fetus, especially if combined with anxiety and depression. For women with ADHD, your baby’s safety issues can include unsafe driving, stress, and mood management. Stress harms the fetus. Ultimately THIS CHOICE IS UP TO YOU.
Some doctors and women chose to stay on their medicaitons during pregnancy and during breast feeding.
1. Think about getting someone to drive for you. Motor vehicle accidents are a considerable concern among women who have ADHD, and when on medication, those accidents do not happen at the same rate
2. Ask for help from people. You are likely to be struggling with more significant challenges to your executive functioning, increased stress on your body and mind, s ensitivity to criticism, and mood swings. It’s important to have a team of people around you who support you.
3. Reminders. Don’t count on yourself to remember put reminders in three or four places. Ask and learn about what kinds of reminder systems are in place for all of the appointments you are setting up.
4. Ask yourself, what do I need to remember and do, and how am I impaired BECAUSE of my ADHD? Think about what medication was helping you with, and then put systems in place to supplement this.
5. Reduce the workload at work. Ask for work accommodations. This is an essential piece that can reduce stress that creates a better environment for your baby. Heightened stress and anxiety during pregnancy affect a child’s physical and mental development. ANYTHING you can do to make your life less stressful will make your baby healthier.
Will my ADHD get Worse While I’m Pregnant?
Research show you at higher risk of :
(Surles 2022)
Your baby is at higher risk of adhd as adhd is genetic. Additionally it’s been shown that babies of women with adhd are at higher risk of:
(Surles 2022)
After pregnancy many of the women I work with will want to refrain from taking their medication because they are breastfeeding. However, it may be safe to take your medicaiton in small doses while breastfeeding. Again, weighing the pros and cons is important. This article is by the program considered one of the most prestigious in the country.
Adhd and college accommodation
More resources:
Updated!
The No Bullshit Guide to Pregnancy when you have ADHD (Taneia Surles 2022)
Please check out Dusty’s work at
Some of this information was taken from Surviving (And Thriving) During Your ADHD Pregnancy – 2021 Dusty Chipura Women’s Palooza
Medical information obtained from this website is not intended as a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you have a problem, you should consult a healthcare provider.
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